hmmm its looking like im gonna have the addiction like some of the older fellas here.. my 65 fairlane was kinda a father/son project, he showed me how to build up the 400 that i have from just parts.. doing it all in my bed room (funny story of trying to get that out.. kind along with the story about the guy who built the boat in his basment) but i have plenty of good memories... hes not really helping me out too much on the 52F2, but im sure he'll wanna drive it when its done!

 

I am 35 soon to be 36, February 23rd, Fenders I thought there was something wierd about you and I, same age ha ha. My 55 is my second slantcab. I purchased my first in 1989 at the age of 19. Growing up in the inner city my Dad taught me to drive a column shift in the Alley. He called 1st gear "low" and 3rd gear "high". I can still see him driving it off the trailer for me when I bought it and and telling me to turn my palm down and let the shifter fall down and guide it up into 2nd. He did not have a name for 2nd. The other two though were "low" and "high". He was happy for me when I bought another in 2002 after selling my first in 1996. Now my Mom on the other hand when she went into my garage and saw it ..... Oh well can't keep em all happy.

 

I'll be 52 in 10 days. I've had my 55 since april 2000 and progress has been excrutiatingly slow but some day. I've been interested in things automotive since a very young age. Rebuilt the engine in an old Morris Minor when I was 16. Built up a 64 Chevy van when I was 18, and then a string of little 4 cylinder cars until the 55 came along. That required an 89 Mustang 5.0 for the drivetrain and I drove it for a couple of years and just parted it out. Always loved the muscle cars and vowed I'd build one some day. I built my shop in 97 with the purpose of doing a project and doing maintenace on my drivers. The 55 is my project. I do suffer from procrastination.

Regards, John

 

Age 59; feel just 58; currently have my 55 panel, a 55 pickup, a 70 C**vy pickup; a 47 Pontiac 4drTorpedo (for sale, has wide whites,..looks about 10 years old and runs fine). Oh yeah, also a 54 panel frame, rolling around on its wheels, with no engine or trans. A guy was going to crush it, I couldn't stand that, so I bought it, but don't need it.

Sold my 56 Victoria. Learned to drive on a 56 Ford also.

My son (Paul, age 32) and I have owned 2 56s, a 54, a 53, another I forgot the year,
along with 3 panel shells, in really bad shape, for parts, etc.
Might sell the 70 C** (a nice ebay truck from Cal.) and maybe build another 56 with a Bebops cab in the future, possibly based on Gen 1 Lightning. Lots of spare parts around, all hidden from neighbors view, since we live in your regular 1960 era suburban brick house and don't want any problems.

Past year built a 32x30 garage in back yard, with 12' side walls. Really beats the driveway! Lots of storage inside in upper area for some of those parts mentioned.

 

I'm 42. The first vehicle I bought was a '53 F-100 when I was 16. I had to sell it to pay for some of my college. Always said I'd get another one. In '87, my Dad found my '56 in my hometown. Bought it for $500 and drug it to Texas. I quickly tore it down and cut it up and have spent the last 10 years trying to put it all back together.

Kent

 

im 16 and ive had 3 years or wrenchin on my front yard 4 1957-60 f100 and 250's and hope to have another 50 years of wrenchin but just think what would happen in 50 years who knows

 

I was looking for a truck the same year as me ('53) for quite a while. When I found Rosie, my '52 F1 in such great condition and I had to have her. I'm been wrenching on old vehicles since I was 16, because I couldn't afford anything that didn't need work. I love working on old vehicles. ...Terry

 

I'm 42 and started working on cars in 1973. My first car was a 1960 ford falcon which I bought for $100. My Dad drove it home for me in 1st gear since the linkage was stuck. Our mechanic neighbor next door showed me how to un stick the linkage and from then on I started rapping my knuckles on cars. When I graduated from college and stated working for a living, I would buy newer cars and just changed their oil. However, my foundest memories of Ford trucks began when I was around 8 when my friend's Dad had an early 1960's ford truck which I rode in. I remember how different the ride was compared to a car plus he would listen to country music on his AM radio. Mind you this was 1966 with the sounds of old country like Patsy Kline filled the airways. Anyways, riding in this truck gave me a rugged, adventurise and down to earth feeling.

About a year ago, my interest in getting of 1953-1956 truck for a hobbie/light duty work (dump, Home Depot runs) intensifed. I looked at a 1955 with the original Kingmaster 239 last winter but it was too much of a project for me. Finally, in June of last summer I found my 56. It's been great fun working on it and learning about this Ford series. Many of the ideas and knowledge I learned was from people like you on this site. Let's face it, these trucks are alot fun with their own personalities.

Tacomalight

 

Turned 42, started by pulling a 6 cyl out of a 56 gmc at 14 years old. Went through about 18 cars by 22 then took a break for a few years to settle down. Started up at 32 with a 71 BB Vette, then two 67 olds 442 and now the '56. Still looking for a '30's coupe.

Hagen

 

I'm 43 and I bought my 56 Big Window in 93. I bought it from a 22 year old who was obsessed with the truck but had no money. He sold me the truck after media blasting it and buying a new harness for 1100.00. It's been a frame up job, it sat from 95 to 02 in my parents back yard. Still working on it......always will.
Scott

 

I,m 52. My 51 F-1 is my first "total" restored rodded ride I've been into muscle cars, 4x4's, motorcycles, and older daily drivers for close to 40 yrs. now. I took an early retirement a couple of years ago so I have more time to dedicate to this "messy" hobby as the wife calls it

 

60 last month. Had my 53 f100 7 years, bought it to do a quickie update into a "beater", 7 years later and it has been a frame up. It is 302/auto od, Volare, painted Ford Royal marroon. Also have a 1946 Ford business coupe with 302/c4 , typical street rod stuff. Also have a 1940 Ford coupe about half done, it has a tuned port 350. Started at age 15 with 51 Ford tudor and have had many since then. After the 51,I bought a 1940 tudor, that is what got me hooked. Had many 40's since, along with a couple of sporty cars and a few chevys. I have had great fun and made many great friends.The "tone" of this forum reflects the best of this hobby as far as I am concerned. I look forward to logging on and am always rewarded with entertaining and helpful conversation. Thanks to all of you.

 

Hmmm, thought if I ignored this post it would go away, but since it hasn't, here goes. I'm smart enough to know better than to post my age on here but let's say Dick C. and I are probably pretty close in age. My Dad owned a junk yard (we didn't call them salvage yards back then) when I was a kid so I guess my interest in cars came from that. I was always very good at taking things apart though not so good at putting them back together (got into trouble with my Dad many times about that). My very first car was a 47 Studebaker but I have owned well over 100 vehicles (counted them once but then lost track). My favorite car was a red channeled 1931 Ford coupe I had in 1959 with a 55 Olds engine with 3 deuces adapted to a 39 Ford transmission. Clear plastic fuel lines ran from the stock 10 gallon fuel tank down to the three carburetors so you could see the gas bubble through when you turned on the switch and the electric fuel pump. The front undercarriage was painted white and it had blue running lights that lit up the whole front suspension at night. It had cycle fenders up front and trailer fenders mounted on the body to cover 7:60:15 white side walls tires with no hubcaps. It had a red and white 58 Impala steering wheel mounted on a stock steering column. That was a fun car. I went through the British sports car rage. I owned a couple of early 60s Austin Healeys and put a SBC in a 57 Austin Healey. Then I went through Vettes for awhile and then back to hot rods. My first truck was a 37 GMC with a 250 inch Olds inline six. My second truck was a 36 Ford PU with a SBC, 350 turbo, and GM 12 bolt rear. I also had a 31 Plymouth coupe with a nailhead Buick V8 and 38 Buick floor shift transmission and a 34 Plymouth with SBC and 350 turbo. I acquired a 32 Ford 5 window coupe body in 1980 and built that up using a small block 400 and turbo 350. I built a 29 Ford Tudor sedan in 1989 from the ground up with SBC, 700-R4, A/C, cruise, tilt, Mustang II, 4 bar rear suspension, disc brakes, and rack and pinion steering. These were just some of my favorite cars. I guess I'll be a hot rodder until the day I die or as long as I can turn a wrench...

Vern

 

29 years old.... been working on the '54 for about 4 years and it's about done with paint. I've fooled around with 4x4's, 68 mustang and demolition derbies.

The '54 has really gotten the hot rod bug to bite me, so I'm looking for a model a or early 30's pickup to start next.

Mike

 

I am 54 and been with classics since 2002, good post young man.

I started my hobby back in 1986 when I used to look for parts in CARS&PARTS magazine, my truck you see in the avatar is 66 F100 styleside long bed, with I-6, 300, originally 240. I started working on my truck 1996, done 2002 taking it in 2 part resto.